(From left to right) Dr. Sam Paul, PR secretary AICC, Rev. Madhu Chandra, spokesperson of North East Support Centre & Helpline addressing media personnel during a press conference, after a Human Rights seminar held at Dimapur Rengma Baptist Church, on January 28. (Morung Photo)
Dimapur, January 28 (MExN): A Human Rights seminar on “Human Trafficking and North East Indian Challenges in Mega Cities” was held at Dimapur Rengma Baptist Church, on January 28, 2011. The seminar was organized by All India Christian Council (AICC) New Delhi and hosted by Dimapur Baptist Pastor Fellowship. Resource persons for the seminar were Dr. Sam Paul, PR secretary AICC, Rev. Madhu Chandra, spokesperson of North East Support Centre & Helpline, and Liansi Niumai John, general secretary, Naga Women Hoho Dimapur.
AICC conducts Human Rights seminar
“We want the state government to take serious note of the issues faced by Northeasterners in Delhi and other cites. There has been a shifting from racial discrimination to sexual abuse to human trafficking. We want response from Nagaland government, because it is the responsibility of government to implement laws, plan action and create policies,” said Rev. Madhu Chandra, spokesperson of North East Support Centre & Helpline to media personnel during a press conference which was held after the seminar. Commenting on repeated cases of murder and molestation to girls from Northeast, Madhu said that in the last few incidents, media has given great response but political leaders from NE has maintained an eerie silence. On the seminar, Rev. Madhu Chandra stated “We decided that we need to begin networking, because of the increase in human trafficking.” “We also want to see the government informed on these issues,” he voiced strongly and adding that the plan of action was to see that existing laws on sexual harassment to women were implemented and new laws made.
Dr. Sam Paul meanwhile, stated that the seminar was a community based workshop for Christian Pastors which was well attended and responded from all denominations. He said that it was meant to create awareness on how NE states face trafficking problem. He said that the seminar was intended to call on people to be involved in standing for justice for all, providing information to families of prospective Northeast youngsters that are in danger, networking with Northeast helpline centre and networking with local government/ police/ authorities of Church to be powerful witnesses.
Madhu Chandra, spokesperson of North East Support Centre & Helpline meanwhile touched on the theme “Northeast migration and challenges in mega cities.” He stated that migration have tripled over the years from NE states which has also made the community very vulnerable and has become target points for trafficking. He also expounded that ‘push factors’ for NE migration were socio politico unrest in the region of origin of migrants, lack of employment opportunities in all NE states, the education system which is badly affected, communal conflict among different heterogonous communities and insurgencies which has destroyed lives, and made many homeless/orphans. He also stated that ‘pull factors’ were better environment for education, employment opportunities for central government jobs which have attracted educated young people from NE, and globalization which has opened doors to many employment opportunities particularly to semi professional and semi-skilled persons. He also stated that social profiling with Mongloid looking face is the greats challenge. “Once a person is socially profiled, a person education, economic social profession status does not matter and is looked down socially or racially,” he said.
Niumai, general secretary, NWHD, said that gender violence, trafficking, abuse exist in the districts of Nagaland. She also said that disappearance of NE girls has been on the rise. Over past five years, rise in reports in missing girls from the eight states of NE, an increase which authorities believe is due to trafficking. She also shared that civil society can take varied steps in tackling the complex nature of human trafficking. Firstly, she felt that the problem should be acknowledged and call for action which is an urgent need. Also, understanding and considering the root cause of the problem should be a prior concern to tackle the issue. She stated that root causes in our region that promotes or attracts Human Trafficking on vulnerable victims are due to poor governance in Nagaland, unemployment, and gender inequality in customary practices. Niumai recommended measures like effective networking, effective information strategy, sensitization and creating public awareness, best effort in creating an environment to safeguard women, demand strong political will which will provide anti trafficking policies.
AICC will also hold similar seminars at Kakching (Manipur) on January 30 and Imphal (Manipur) on January 31.
AICC conducts Human Rights seminar
“We want the state government to take serious note of the issues faced by Northeasterners in Delhi and other cites. There has been a shifting from racial discrimination to sexual abuse to human trafficking. We want response from Nagaland government, because it is the responsibility of government to implement laws, plan action and create policies,” said Rev. Madhu Chandra, spokesperson of North East Support Centre & Helpline to media personnel during a press conference which was held after the seminar. Commenting on repeated cases of murder and molestation to girls from Northeast, Madhu said that in the last few incidents, media has given great response but political leaders from NE has maintained an eerie silence. On the seminar, Rev. Madhu Chandra stated “We decided that we need to begin networking, because of the increase in human trafficking.” “We also want to see the government informed on these issues,” he voiced strongly and adding that the plan of action was to see that existing laws on sexual harassment to women were implemented and new laws made.
Dr. Sam Paul meanwhile, stated that the seminar was a community based workshop for Christian Pastors which was well attended and responded from all denominations. He said that it was meant to create awareness on how NE states face trafficking problem. He said that the seminar was intended to call on people to be involved in standing for justice for all, providing information to families of prospective Northeast youngsters that are in danger, networking with Northeast helpline centre and networking with local government/ police/ authorities of Church to be powerful witnesses.
Madhu Chandra, spokesperson of North East Support Centre & Helpline meanwhile touched on the theme “Northeast migration and challenges in mega cities.” He stated that migration have tripled over the years from NE states which has also made the community very vulnerable and has become target points for trafficking. He also expounded that ‘push factors’ for NE migration were socio politico unrest in the region of origin of migrants, lack of employment opportunities in all NE states, the education system which is badly affected, communal conflict among different heterogonous communities and insurgencies which has destroyed lives, and made many homeless/orphans. He also stated that ‘pull factors’ were better environment for education, employment opportunities for central government jobs which have attracted educated young people from NE, and globalization which has opened doors to many employment opportunities particularly to semi professional and semi-skilled persons. He also stated that social profiling with Mongloid looking face is the greats challenge. “Once a person is socially profiled, a person education, economic social profession status does not matter and is looked down socially or racially,” he said.
Niumai, general secretary, NWHD, said that gender violence, trafficking, abuse exist in the districts of Nagaland. She also said that disappearance of NE girls has been on the rise. Over past five years, rise in reports in missing girls from the eight states of NE, an increase which authorities believe is due to trafficking. She also shared that civil society can take varied steps in tackling the complex nature of human trafficking. Firstly, she felt that the problem should be acknowledged and call for action which is an urgent need. Also, understanding and considering the root cause of the problem should be a prior concern to tackle the issue. She stated that root causes in our region that promotes or attracts Human Trafficking on vulnerable victims are due to poor governance in Nagaland, unemployment, and gender inequality in customary practices. Niumai recommended measures like effective networking, effective information strategy, sensitization and creating public awareness, best effort in creating an environment to safeguard women, demand strong political will which will provide anti trafficking policies.
AICC will also hold similar seminars at Kakching (Manipur) on January 30 and Imphal (Manipur) on January 31.
